I'm a Buddhist, but Not
A Pacifist in War on Terror

By

Woody Hochswender

Updated March 28, 2002 12:45 a.m. ET

The events of last September have antiwar activists, Buddhists, and assorted doctrinaire lovers of peace in a bit of a twist. Here was an unprovoked warlike act, carried out with chilling premeditation, against innocent civilians, with a tremendous loss of life. Against such a quintessential evil, how could one not strike back?

In this connection, the New York Times recently reported that Buddhism, a religion known for its respect for the sanctity of life, had become markedly less popular since last September. As evidence,...